While reiterating Lawrence Gonzi’s pre-electoral commitment not to introduce charges on health services, Social Policy Minister John Dalli has stated he still thinks “there is nothing wrong that private insurance are charged for the health costs of insured.”
Dalli, who first made this proposal in the 2003 budget, still believes that this idea “makes sense” and that it is healthy to discuss this proposal.
Dalli made this declaration when facing similar questions in yesterday’s editions of PBS programmes Dissett and Reporter.
Effectively this would mean that private insurances would pay for the health costs of those insured with them when they are hospitalised in the state’s hospital. At present, insurance companies only cover costs endured in private hospitals.
Still Dalli firmly excludes imposing any fees or charges on public health services, an issue which dominated the last week of the electoral campaign after the Labour Party revealed a Ministry of Health report stating that the Cabinet had agreed in principle with imposing fees on health services.
The Prime Minister had reacted back then saying that he would resign if his government introduces any health costs.
“Free health care is a commitment of the Nationalist Party and I am part of the party. I am bound by the party’s electoral manifesto,” Dalli said.
Dalli also announced that stopping abusive work practices through which people are employed as self-employed individuals was a “top priority” for the government. His vast portfolio includes both health and social benefits.
He also announced that the government will include clauses on employment conditions when issuing contracts.
On Dissett yesterday, Dalli also announced that he had disposed of his shares in his private company and stopped his consultancies to clients upon being appointed minister.
When quizzed whether he still harbours leadership ambitions Dalli reaffirmed his loyalty towards Lawrence Gonzi. “Lawrence Gonzi is entrenched as leader of the Nationalist Party. He has proved himself as leader in this campaign.”

jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt